Editing 1257 (section)

==== Europe ====
* [[January 13]] &ndash; At the first recorded meeting of the college of the seven [[Prince-elector|Electors]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the 48-year-old [[Richard of Cornwall]] (the brother of King [[Henry III of England]]) is elected [[King of the Romans]]. He is crowned at [[Aachen]], on [[May 17]]. His candidacy is opposed by King [[Alfonso X of Castile]] ("the Wise"), [[Pope Alexander IV]] and King [[Louis IX of France]] ("the Saint") who favour Alfonso, but both are ultimately convinced by Richard's sister-in-law, Queen [[Eleanor of Provence]], to support Richard.<ref>Hywel Williams (2005). ''Cassell's Chronology of World History'', p. 143. {{ISBN|0-304-35730-8}}.</ref>
* Spring &ndash; The [[Epirote–Nicaean conflict (1257–59)]] begins between the [[Despotate of Epirus]] and the [[Empire of Nicaea]]. Despot [[Michael II Komnenos Doukas]] revolts and defeats the Nicaean army under [[George Akropolites]]. The Epirote and Serbian forces join their attacks against Michael, who sends his forces into [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] and marches on to [[Thessaloniki|Thessalonica]]. In response, Michael is attacked – on the west coast of Epirus – by [[Manfred of Sicily]]. Manfred first occupies the major [[Ionian Islands]], including [[Corfu]]. Then he lands on the Albanian coast and takes [[Durrës|Durazzo]], [[Berat]], [[Vlorë|Valona]] and their environs.<ref>Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994). ''The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest'', pp. 160–161. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|0-472-08260-4}}.</ref>
* The pagan [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]] start a destructive expedition to [[Sweden]] in which King [[Valdemar, King of Sweden|Valdemar]] requests Alexander IV to declare a crusade against them. This leads to the [[Third Swedish Crusade]] to [[Finland]] ([[1293]]–[[1295|95]]).